How to Kill Bugs Naturally

With the weather warming up, and the frost disappearing, common household bugs and pests once again start to find their way into your home and garden. If you’ve made a pact to have a chemical free household, then you don’t want to go out and buy products with toxic ingredients just for peace of mind. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to get rid of bugs naturally. We’ve created a list of the best natural solutions to getting rid of bugs this spring.

Repel Mosquitos with oil of lemon eucalyptus

Mosquitos might be the most pesky of warm-weather bugs, and some of the hardest to ward off. Instead of using a chemical laden repellant with harmful ingredients, opt for simple changes and natural products to keep them at bay.

First, be sure to keep the areas around your house free of standing water–where mosquitoes lay eggs. This includes keeping your gutters clear and your trash cans clean.

Ward off wasps with fresh-cut herbs

In the summer, the areas around our homes, like porches and sheds become hiding grounds for wasp nests. It can be dangerous to remove a nest once it’s already inhabited, and these stinging creatures make it difficult to enjoy time outside.

A natural way to ward off wasps is to hang fresh-cut rosemary or mint near areas where wasps typically nest. These fresh herbs can keep wasps from building nests, and keep your cozy outdoor areas safe to enjoy. Just replace the bouquets often to keep them fresh, and use them in areas where you common see wasps lurking.

Keep your house free of flies with borax.

Summertime means that houseflies find their way into your kitchens, window sills, and trash cans. Instead of swatting at them all season, use a natural solution like borax to keep them away. Keep your kitchen counters clean and free of crumbs, and empty your trash can often. Aim to wash your garbage bin out about once a week, and sprinkle borax inside to discourage flies from congregating there. Borax is a cheap solution that can also be effective at killing cockroaches and detouring ants. You can find it in the laundry aisle of your local grocery store, or online here: http://www.amazon.com/Mule-Borax-Natural-Laundry-Booster/dp/B000R4LONQ

Kill fruit flies with an old wine bottle

Fruit flies can invade your space and take over your kitchen in a short amount of time and it almost always seems like they come out of nowhere. These tiny flies are attracted to ripening fruit, and quickly turn your kitchen into a breeding ground. It’s important to throw out any ripened fruit as soon as you notice the problem. Then, you can kill the remaining fruit flies by crafting a simple trap with an empty wine bottle and some juice. Just pour some fruit juice into the wine bottle with the top open, and leave it on your counter. The juice will attract the fruit flies, and they will be able to get into the bottle but not get out.